Photo= "Miwa" taking a yuzu bath on the winter solstice (city zoo, Izaki, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture)

"Miwa," a popular Japanese monkey at the Fukuchiyama City Zoo, in Izaki, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, enjoyed "yuzu-yu" or a bath aromatized with yuzu citrus fruit, on December 22, which was "toji," or the winter solstice, one of the 24 divisions of the solar year. The sight warmed visitors' hearts.

It is traditionally said that taking a yuzu bath on the winter solstice prevents one from catching a cold throughout the whole year. The zoo has been practicing this tradition for three years.

Miwa, who became popular for riding on a boar, is now three years old. When he got in the bucket of hot water and yuzu, he looked just as comfortable as a human enjoying a bath. Visiting families smiled and pointed their cameras at Miwa as he behaved adorably while stretching or biting the yuzu.